Running Total Collective Artist Debt

$55,212,069.84

Zeal Harris

How did you get into debt?

student loans

How does your economic reality effect your art?

My economic reality slows/obstructs my development as a professional artist because I have to work and I have a low income. This makes it more difficult to attain professional standards for academic artists (this is what I am). To be considered a fully professional academic artist I would need more artwork, better quality materials or production value, a better website, a studio is helpful (or storage space or higher rent must be paid for space to work and store art), and professional help such as a gallery, PR personal, dealer, rep, assistant, paid production services are requisites as well.
Additionally, most academic professional artists teach at the college level. With the trend away from the hire of full-time professors towards the hire of part-time adjuncts, in Los Angeles, I could not see how I could afford to make that career move and those positions are also highly competitive. I do my best to make choices that privilege my art and it is a great burden and sacrifice that I make because I feel that I have great purpose in creating artwork that will ultimately leave a legacy of cultural value to the history of African American artmaking.

Would your work look different if you weren't in debt?:

Yes. i would be able to create MORE art and spend more money to create art that's made with more professional quality materials.